To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Service Integrated Commissioning, Adults and Health which provides the Outer North East Community Committee with an update on the citywide Leeds Dementia Strategy.
Minutes:
The report of the Head of Service (Integrated Commissioning, Adults and Health) provided an update on the citywide Leeds Dementia Strategy.
The Commissioning Lead, Dementia (Adults and Health, LCC) introduced the item, and provided the Community Committee with a PowerPoint presentation. The following information was highlighted:
o Service ‘reset’ & recovery from Covid
o Carer support and breaks
o Annual review and care co-ordination
o Demographics, diversity, and emerging needs
o Care quality, complex needs, timely transfers
o End-of-life care and planning ahead
*Referral for a Memory Support Worker – 0113 231 1727, memorysupport.lypft@nhs.net
Dementia Connect support line (includes evening and weekends – 0333 150 3456
The Committee discussed the following:
· It was noted that Councillors from the Outer North East wards had assisted with joining up facilities during the pandemic, assisting with activity such as contact with loved ones in care homes. Leeds City Council had worked alongside Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) during this time.
· With the noted public transport issues, there are volunteer run schemes in the area to assist with getting people to and from activities and care programmes, however accessibility concerns for the area remain.
· In response to a question from Members, it was outlined the Outer North East experiences the highest rate of dementia diagnosis per capita. Because the area has a more affluent population, this is linked to more people reaching very old age, which is the main risk factor for dementia. However, the ‘age-standardised’ risk of dementia is lower than for inner Leeds / less affluent areas, because of the impact of health inequalities.
· Members suggested all Leeds City Council employees and Councillors should be encouraged to become a dementia friend or ambassador. Several of the Members in attendance confirmed they were already dementia friendly trained.
· Social services visits usually end at 5pm daily, if these times could be extended to provide some later night assistance it will improve care provision for patients and carers.
· As the Outer North East is generally made up of smaller town and village populations, this provides some benefit of greater community support for people living with dementia.
· It is vital that carers are identified and provided with access to information regarding services available to them for support. Improving identification and recording of carers on GP patient management systems is an important element of this.
RESOLVED - That the content of the report and presentation, along with members comments be noted.
Supporting documents: